I am a Sydneysider and would be holidaying in Melbourne for 3 days from April 17. Beyond that I have 2 extra days to spend to explore the surrounds. We have 2 kids, a 12 year old and a 16 year old. Would you recommend Ballarat or the Yarra Valley? Or somewhere else? I have done the GOR a few years ago. I would be driving. Suggestions on accomodations would also be appreciated.

Hi eschaton,
When we were there with teenagers of a similar age, we went to Sovereign Hill which is at Ballarat, http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/
also
Eureka centre
http://www.eurekaballarat.com/index....&Itemid=76
They were good places to visit, as was Healesville sanctuary
http://www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=2
Its in the Yarra valley, so you could combine these things with visiting the area.

So there are lots of things to do this is just a few.

Muck

hi Muck,

Thanks for the prompt reply.
I just checked the sovereignhill website and is sufficiently impressed to consider spending one day there and the other day at Yarra Valley. My wife would have preferred 2 days at the Valley, but Sovereign Hills must be doing something right to win the award for best attraction.
Also, hope Palm Cove's Oasis is in good shape after Larry; I'd like to go back one day.

Hi Eschaton

Go to Halls Gap in the Grampians. Its absolutely fantastic. There are plenty of walks with varying degrees of difficulty and its a beautiful place.

Kids will run wild.

MT Rosalie walk is a 5 hour hike with alot of fun rock scrambling which the kids will love.

The Halls Gap Youth Hostel won a couple of enviromental awards and is highly recommended.

Eek

hi Eekthecat,
Thanks for pointing me to the Grampians.
I was googling for infos on Halls Gap in response to your posting; then noted that a severe bushfire hit it real bad in Jan. Would anyone know if the area has recovered sufficiently?

I know that the township itself suffered little actual fire damage and that some of the walks have been reopened, but obviously huge areas will be just be blackened shells. However, a little bit of regrowth will have started and that can be fascinating to see in itself. I certainly remember after the Ash Wednesday fires being so impressed at seeing how the natura lbush starts to recover as compared to the absolute devestation of those areas which had been planted pine forests.

In relation to Sovereign Hill the Blood on the Southern Cross (light and sound show) is very good. Our teenagers really enjoyed it. However it is expensive to pay for day and night admission. May be they give a decent discount if you do both together.

Thanks, Shandy.
I am now thinking of extending my holidays to take in a loop to cover the Grampian and Ballarat.
The 'run rabbit run...' commercial (by Vic Tourism) had my wife convinced that we must spend more time in the Yarra Valley, but I am thinking of doing just a day trip there from Melbourne.

Hi Eschaton

Alot of the grampians trails are primarly rock formation so even though there was damage to the natural foral, it wouldnt detract from the beauty of the grampians.

Maybe you could call the information centre there and ask them what the go is. I know that the pinnicle walk would still be an amazing trail.

Cheers

Eek